Feather Weight, Lightening Fast, & Sure to Turn Heads

Pearl Izumi’s new Tri Fly Octane Shoe is as fast as it looks in safety orange. This shoe boasts a uni-directional extremely lightweight carbon fiber sole that is crazy stiff yet comfortable underfoot. Direct-Vent technology ensures that your foot will be dry and well vented after coming out of the water with two large ventilation ports in the sole and vents surrounding the front of the shoe. Similar to a high-end racing flat for running, this shoe has an internal structure that is amazingly supportive and comfortable to a bare foot with minimal weight due to the full mesh internal lining. What else is unique about this top of the line shoe? It has a patented closure system that removes hot spots and pressure from your forefoot! We validated that a size 45 (US 10.5) only weighs 7.6 oz which is pretty unheard of for a cycling shoe. If you don’t have a big foot, you will be glad to hear a size 42 even less at 185 grams! We found this shoe to fit a little narrower than some other options out there (such as Louis Garneau or Shimano) but extremely comfortable and supportive. Don’t just take our word, come in and see for yourself!

Set a Land Speed Record: Bell Javelin Helmets are In-Stock!

Make way for Bell’s new TT super helmet that is now on the market. Not only is this wind-tunnel and real-world proven to be an aerodynamic rocket, but it is also very well ventilated and easy to get on in transition! What a concept. Not to mention, it is offered at an outstanding price point ($200) that is right in line with the competition. Check it out:

Not visible in this picture are the two front vents and a smoke colored face shield that makes this helmet extremely sleek from the front. Unlike some other shield compatible helmets on the market, the Javelin’s shield sits at the optimal distance away from your face for ventilation and visibility. If you do not care for the face shield, it is easily removable. Below, you can see the rear ventilation that allows air to flow freely through the entire helmet.

This helmet will fit securely on your head with the Twin Axis Gear locking mechanism and light-weight webbing. This system allows for micro adjustments on the fly. X-Static padding will guarantee that the helmet won’t grow bacteria and smell like your kid’s hockey bag within the matter of weeks.

Clear some room in your tri/time trial nerdery budget and come see us to check out this aero-super helmet! Currently we have it in Black/Red, Graphite, and White/Silver!

Bright for a Nite: Gear to Keep You Off Someone’s Grill

As daylight continues to fade, you cannot be bright enough while running or cycling at dusk or dawn. This includes putting lights on your bike and wearing as much reflective gear as possible. In the last few weeks we have received some awesome reflective products from IllumiNITE. IllumiNITE makes retro-reflective clothing for active use. What is retro-reflective? Retro-reflective gear is stylish during the day and highly reflective at night. Thus, you don’t have to look like a road worker to be super visible and safe while cycling and running (See Below).

As you can see, this fleece windproof running hat lights up instantly just with the flash of a camera. Without a camera flash, the gear looks like normal performance outwear (as seen below).

We have plenty of reflective men’s and women’s products to choose from including jackets, tights, vests, balaclavas, and other thermal wear to keep you warm and visible. These products range in price from $25 to $100. Come in and see what Illumite has to offer as the days get shorter and shorter!

Why Zipp Dominated the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii

Zipp’s race  wheels were once again the most popular wheels used in Kona, HI at the Ironman World Championships (see image below). Zipp has been on top of the list for more than 10 consecutive years. There can be one simple reason for this statistic or several small reasons.

Just because something is on top of a “popularity” list doesn’t necessarily mean it is the best. There have been several instances in the bike industry where one particular item or brand is on top only to have the product lose its place as the competitors get the upper hand. 10 years ago Trek was on top of the bike count in Kona but is no longer there. 10 years ago there were far more Trek dealers than there were shops that carried triathlon specific bikes. As the sport of triathlon has grown so has the triathlete’s expectation of equipment. Many triathletes chose to switch to a triathlon specific bike as opposed to the very popular Trek road bikes. This is the number one reason we don’t see Trek on top of the bike count list but instead Cervelo, Felt, etc. It is not because Trek doesn’t make a good bike. They simply didn’t focus on a triathlon specific bike for a handful of years.

Of course many will point out that neither the men’s nor women’s winner rode Zipp wheels. This is a valid point to address. Of course Craig Alexander used to be a Zipp athlete but now rides for Shimano, which also means Shimano wheels. There is little doubt that Craig would have won on either brand wheel. And there is probably a few other brands he could have ridden to victory. His personal best bike split is not because of a wheel change as he has been on Shimano for a couple years. It is likely due to his new bike position as much as anything. He did switch bike brands just a few months ago. I won’t speculate as to why, but he is clearly riding in a different position than in years past. No matter what the position or what reasons he has for riding a particular brand of wheel, his winning has more to do with him being the best IM athlete in the world than anything else.

If Zipp wheels are the “best” and the most popular aero wheels in the sport then why aren’t all of the top pros on them? Money! Many companies in the industry pay the top athletes to represent their products and brands. If it is an equipment company, then that means using their equipment. Zipp doesn’t pay their athletes to ride their product. This leaves athletes to choose between guaranteed money from their equipment endorsements or possible prize money from using the best equipment.

For the rest of us, we need to make sure we are purchasing the best equipment that fits our needs. This holds true for bikes, wetsuits, aero helmets, and of course race wheels. For all of us at Gear West Bike & Tri, the race wheel question is the easiest of all, Zipp. We know that Zipp produces the best and most complete line of performance wheels in the industry. Most every wheel manufacturer will state their wheel is the most aerodynamic wheel. Or they will throw out static weights of their wheels. In the end, what really matters is how well the wheel performs the task for which you purchased it.

As a complete package, Zipp wheels are the best. They are the best or nearly the best in all categories: Aerodynamics, weight, stiffness, durability, bearings and hubs, etc. With Zipp addressing every aspect of a wheel, the wheels have the best overall satisfaction. They are clearly and measurably fast, light with minimal moment of inertia, and laterally stiff for excellent energy transfer while still being compliant. The hubs and bearings have always been as high quality as the US made rims they are laced into. Their rim profiles take into account that we don’t ride in a wind tunnel, but rather in the real world where the wind is constantly changing. Additionally, with Zipp’s Carbon Bridge Technology, they were able to set a new standard on impact resistance of carbon rims.

Stop in to Gear West Bike and Tri to test a set of wheels to see what Zipp wheel owners already know. We have wheels for Demo, Rental, and of course a huge selection of wheels to purchase. We stock tires, cassettes, skewers, wheel bags, brake pads, and just about everything else you might want to get the most out of your wheels.

How to Make Your Lazer Tardiz EVEN MORE Aerodynamic

In the last week, we got in a new secret weapon that was unveiled by the Kelly Benefit Strategies pro cycling team during the Tour of California stage 6 time trial. Lazer’s Aeroshell is a sleek plastic cover that is designed to fit perfectly over their Tardiz, O2, Genesis, and Helium helmets. The shell protects riders from the chill of wind, rain and cold, but still offers air movement for those warm summer time trials with rear ventilation.

For time trials, this shell can increase the aerodynamic benefits of the Tardiz helmet by smoothing airflow over the top of the helmet, sealing the front vents. What if you don’t have a Tardiz? Well if you have an O2, Genesis or Helium helmet, you can increase the aerodynamics of it to bring it up to par against those with aero helmets.

Swing in and check out this nifty little aero weapon that is only $20!

Also, check out how slick it looks on the Kelly Benefit helmets during the Tour of California!

2011 Quintana Roo Tri Bikes are Trickling In

2011 Quintana Roos are slowly arriving at the shop which is exciting news. So far we have received a handful of CD.01 Ultegras and a few Luceros. During our trip to Interbike last fall, we were very impressed by the new modifications that QR made to their frames and the component specs of each model. Additionally, the Lucero is back by popular demand, offering plenty of bang at a modest price. Here are some of our thoughts after receiving and building the new Lucero and CD.01 Ultegra.

2011 Lucero:

With an MSRP of $2650, this bike hosts some pretty impressive features. The Lucero’s drivetrain consists of mostly Ultegra 6700 components, including the crankset which is a pretty killer deal for under $3K. The rear derailleur and bar-end shifters are Dura-Ace, making shifting that much more precise. Overall, the drivetrain offers a vast amount of precision and performance, with none of the headaches of a third-party crankset entering the picture. This is a huge plus.

Like all of QR’s bikes for 2011, the fit should also be more accommodating for all athletic abilities and body geometries. QR has lengthened the head tube of each size by roughly 1.5cm, which has us excited to put one up on the fit stand. QR decided to lengthen the head tube a touch after consulting many fit experts around the nation. Other additions to the frame are sleeker seat stays and a different seat clamp, producing less drag in at every wind direction. The Lucero’s carbon frame is much like the 2011 Seduza’s, just with different component specs. The new graphics are modest, but give the bike enough flair to stand out amongst others.

The wheelset and aerobar set-up round this bike out to be a true contender. Shimano’s RS30 wheels have moderate depth and offer excellent durability to handle all the training mileage put on during the year. Vision’s clip-on aero extensions provide plenty of adjustability for all types of triathletes. In summary, we think this bike could be a hot ticket this summer and it is nice to see another well-built mid-level full carbon bike on the floor.

CD.01 Ultegra:

QR’s premier bike is back again and better than ever for 2011. In the past year, the green machine (2010 Ultegra version) has gone through some upgrades and has come out in a new digitized camo scheme. It would be par for the course to offer a bold paint scheme to go along with this sleek aero-rocket!

The main idea behind the CD.01 frame is a 18mm off-set in the downtube that diverts airflow away from the drivetrain side of the bike, producing an aerodynamic advantage the is unmatched by other tri bike manufacturers. The frame consists of premium modulus carbon fiber which is stiffer and lighter than the carbon used in models below the CD.01. With well hidden front and rear brake calipers, this bike is extremely sleek.

The drivetrain is also fairly impressive on the mostly Ultegra CD.o1. The Vision Tri Max crankset does not heavily detract from the shifting performance of the 6700 derailleurs which is a large plus. Like the Lucero, this bike has Shimano RS30 wheels and a Vision alloy aerobar set-up. Not to be forgotten, is the addition of an ISM Adamo saddle. QR has done away with rigid stock saddles and has chosen to go with the leader in eliminating numbness and stimulating blood flow. Since the Adamo’s popularity has sky rocketed amongst triathletes at GW Bike, we are excited that QR has chosen such a great saddle to put on their bikes.

At a price point of $3300, the Ultegra CD.01 offers some true aerodynamic advantages that are hard to match. If your goal is to shave time off the bike portion of a triathlon or throw down an impressive time trial time, this may be your ticket.

An important note is that this bike can also be purchased with an upgraded set-up, featuring Dura-Ace components, different frame graphics, a nicer Vision cockpit, and upgraded wheels. If you want to pull out all the stops, read more about the CD.01 Dura-Ace.

Come in and try one of these new 2011 QR’s. We are eager to put one on the fit stand!

New Product Arrival – TorHans Aero30 Hydration Unit

Tri bike accessories may be one of the most time consuming research topics out there for many “tri geeks.” At Gear West Bike, we try to simplify all of the choices to carry a variety of products that we believe perform the best. Recently, we received a new aero drink system that has created a lot of buzz in the tri community from a relatively new company, TorHans.

TorHans was founded by two passionate cyclists and one entrepreneur with the goal of recreating poorly designed hydration units, reshaping them with a vast amount of aerodynamic research. The Aero30 Bottle (pictured below) contains a few features that the popular Profile Design bottles do not contain.

The Aero30 has dual mounting channels and a trailing edge that matches the head tube of most triathlon bikes on the market, making it much more aerodynamic in the wind. The dual channels allow the mounting of a computer / utility holder that could hold a CPU, power meter, energy gels or other nutrition. The bottle itself holds 30oz of liquid and contains the XFlow cap, which is easier to fill on the go. Sloshing and spilling is not an issue with this cap and it will become handy when refilling at long course aid stations once the bottle is emptied. Additionally, the straw has a well thought out aero sleeve, masking the circular shape from the wind. Rest assured, the bottle is also BPA free, meaning consumers will not have to worry about leeching chemicals. Mounting this bottle is extremely easy with a mounting bracket that is adjustable up to widths of 14cm.

Come into GW Bike and check out this new set-up as you begin to consider adding additional hydration units to your tri bike. The Aero30 bottle retails for $44.99 and the mounting bracket is sold seperately for $29.95

Four New Books to Jump Start the New Year

Now that the holiday rush is over and it is the start of a new year, we wish you all the best from the Gear West Bike and Triathlon staff. Let this be the time to reflect, set new goals, and prepare to have a successful and prosperous year in all of your pursuits. As triathlon, cycling, and running event registrations begin to open, allow us to help you move towards and achieve your multisport goals. Whether you want to break into triathlon or road cycling this year, reach a new personal record, or just enjoy Minnesota’s vast variety of trails, come see what we have to offer and recommend.

Appropriately timed to address all of those new year’s resolutions, we recently received a shipment of newly published books from Velo Press. Below, I have highlighted some of our new arrivals which may align perfectly with your goals.

1. Balancing your busy life with your triathlon ambitions – The Time Crunched Triathlete, written by Chris Carmichael and Jim Rutberg, addresses an issue we all deal with, balancing life with training. This book delivers a new approach that shows how to build fitness in all three sports, develop the speed and endurance needed to be competitive, and reach a new level of fitness in only eight hours per week. This book comes complete with training plans, nutritional guidelines, and case studies, making it a must read for busy professionals, parents, or time crunched triathletes!
2. Learning to run without pain – Natural Running is not just another book addressing the growing topic of barefoot running for better health. Danny Abshire and Brian Metzler, longtime running form and injury experts, co-authored this book to help teach natural running technique, think about injuries as symptoms of poor running form, and arm you with an 8 week transition plan of strength and form drills to bring your running to an entirely new injury free level. This book doesn’t blindly promote barefoot running, but rather breaks down the evolution of running techniques that have been distorted by modern running shoes. This book is worth reading if you need your feet, knees, and legs to feel better in 2011 to maintain health!
3. Maintain a healthy weight to maximize multisport performance – Matt Fitzgerald, the author of Racing Weight, has written a quick-start guide that is a great companion to this best-selling book. It provides high intensity workouts and strength training along with meal recommendations, menus, and sport specific plans that will help you reach and maintain your goal weight for racing this year. Low and high volume plans will also guide you through each part of the season whether you’re a cyclist, triathlete or runner. Don’t take a guess this year and impede top performances, use this as a guide to slim down and build the right ratio of lean muscle mass for this year’s triathlon season.
4. Race at an entirely new level – If you have been racing for multiple years, you may be looking for new training techniques that will spice up this season. Your Best Triathlon is aimed at veteran triathletes in pursuit of that breakout performance. This book will deliver training plans for all distances, arming each reader with a kit of proven workouts, isolating and developing each of the three disciplines of triathlon. If you’re a time crunched athlete, don’t worry. Each plan comes with tips on how to modify and manage training while improving performance.

Speed Concept 7.5′s are Here!

We recently received two Speed Concept 7.5′s in store (Medium and Large) and they look pretty spectacular (as seen below).

The 7.5 boasts about 80% of the technology seen on the 9 Series Speed Concepts and shares many of the same features at a great price. Here are some of the positives that we have seen so far that could make this bike very popular at the $3500 price point. For this amount of money, the bike has full Ultegra 6700 components, a Race X Lite bullhorn with aluminum bar extensions, Dura-Ace 10-speed shifters, and Trek’s TCT carbon frame. Aside from the component build, this bike is aesthetically pleasing and extremely sleek in a cross wind. Each company has their own story on why one bike is more aero than another, but there are many features about the Speed Concept that are well thought out.

The tube shape on Trek’s Speed Concept is unique to cycling. The kammtail tubing is very sleek in a crosswind as seen below:

This is because Trek focused on finding the right length and width of the tubing to produce a virtual tail at the end, even though the tubing does not come to a point. Additionally, this tail shifts to address a change in wind angle while riding. By truncating the tubing, Trek was also able to create a frame that is 200 grams lighter than the TTX and 20% stiffer. Additionally, the rear brakes are well hidden near the rear chain stays. Trek even created an aero skewer that is positioned to hide from the wind. Internal cable routing also increases the frames sleekness. Believe it or not, cables can cause a significant amount of drag at any wind angle.

The difference between the 7 series and 9 series lies in a few different areas. The most obvious difference lies in the quality of the carbon fiber. The 7 Series uses TCT carbon vs. the OCLV carbon found in the 9 series. OCLV carbon is compacted under more pressure, creating the optimal blend of carbon and resin, reducing weight and increasing the frames stiffness. Additionally, there are less voids in the carbon (referring to the small microscopic gaps found between the carbon layers) achieving maximum strength above aerospace standards! Unlike the 7 Series, the 9 has hidden front brake calipers that are tucked into the fork, making them almost invisible (try to find them in our store!). The front end of the 9 Series is also much sleeker, with a shape similar to an hour-glass. From the front, the bike almost appears to vanish head-on. Additionally, the carbon cockpit is extremely adjustable, allowing 6 different stems and 14cm worth of stack adjustment. On the stand, we can attest to the amount of adjustability offered in both the 7 and 9 Series Speed Concepts. Unlike some, these machines can be adjusted to fit most body types extremely well.

Come in and try one this winter on our trainers!

Zipp 404 Carbon Clincher Review

To be more knowledgeable sales people, equipped with an actual comprehension of how well certain products perform, we are constantly testing new products on the market. Not only are we excited and anxious to ride new products, such as the much anticipated Zipp 404 Carbon Clinchers, but we are also able to make accurate recommendations based off of our experiences to you, the customer.

Below is Kevin’s review of the 404 Carbon Clinchers after riding them for a good portion of the summer. Kevin has had the opportunity to ride all of Zipp’s wheelsets as they continue to evolve over the years. He has also tried a lot of other wheels that are currently on the market. With this being the case, the goal of the review is to provide you with product knowledge, both the pros and cons, in a fashion that is non-biased and educational. Our hope is that the information is applicable to those who may be weighing many options before purchasing their next wheelset.

Why you needed/wanted the product.

Zipp has been working on a Carbon Clincher(CC) wheel for several years. Carbon Clincher wheels have been available from a handful of other carbon wheel manufacturers with mixed result. Zipp was making certain they would not see any failures with their carbon clinchers (more on this in the next section).

Zipp CC wheels are the next evolution of the most desired, popular, and respected wheels in the bike industry.  CC wheels try to combine weight savings and ride quality of tubulars, with the convenience (perceived or real) of clinchers.   

I wanted to see if CC wheels were all they were hyped up to be. Do you get the benefits of a tubular wheelset?  Would I want to have these for everyday riding and/or race day? It took just one ride to answer the first question and just a few more to answer all other questions.

 

Components/Special features.  (price, outstanding or unusual functions, how you used it)

 

The development of the CC took several years. Parts of the development were revolutionary and part of it was a typical progression in Zipp’s wheel technology. 

The first step in the CC development was to have a carbon “hook bead” that can both withstand the pressure of the brake calipers as well as the heat buildup from extensive braking. Zipp was able to make a hook bead with ample strength, but they had to work with their carbon fiber manufacturer to develop a resin which would not degrade, or weaken, under the increased heat of prolonged braking. This was achieved and the CC wheels use a new resin that is unique to the CC wheels.

The CC wheelset, when purchased as a pair, comes with a set of cork brake pads that are needed when using CC wheels. The pads do a few things well. They prevent any squealing when braking, better braking control in wet conditions, and minimize heat buildup. 

If a CC wheel has too much heat buildup, the temperature of the rim can surpass the temperature at which the resin begins to break down. This of course weakens the hook bead. Simultaneously the tire pressure builds due to the increased temperature of the wheel. This is when there can be serious issues with the wheel’s integrity. 

Of course Zipp’s CC wheel development was to address this specific issue. They were able to obtain a resin that has the properties needed to meet all the robust standards Zipp always holds when developing a product. The cork brake pads simply add to the ride quality and provide insurance that the wheelset has a long life.

The second aspect of the wheel is part of the typical evolution we are used to seeing from Zipp. Their newest rim shape used in the 404 and 808 has been named “Firecrest”. This new rim shape is not only more aerodynamic in real world conditions, it also rides better. The new “fatter” rims shape has much less drag as the yaw angle increases (more crosswind) while also decreasing drag at very low yaw angles. 

This rim shape improves ride quality in two other ways. First, the side force on the rim caused by crosswind is decreased because “Firecrest” moves those forces closer to the hub (away from the tire). In other words the wheel rides with characteristics of a rim with a shallower rim profile, while still providing the aerodynamics of a deep rim profile wheel.

The “fat”, or wide, rim also improves the ride quality of the wheel. The wheel rides softer while giving the rider a better feel for the road. Zipp is not the only wheel manufacturer making wider wheels but the Zipp Firecrest is the first Carbon Clincher wheel with the wider shape.

 

Pros (what you liked, what surprised you)

When I get to try a new product I am always comparing it to what I have been or are currently using. When I am training I ride either a set of Mavic Open Pro wheels with a Powertap or a set of Shimano RS80 Carbon Cap wheels. For race day I have a Zipp Sub 9 disc and 1080 front wheel. Both of the race wheels are tubular, not clincher. I have also had the luxury of riding all the other Zipp wheels on the market and several other brands.

When I put the Zipp 404 CC wheels on my road bike they replaced the stock RS80 wheels. I actually like the RS80 wheels and I have been quite impressed with them as a high end training wheels or entry level road racing wheel. However, the 404 CC took the ride to a whole new level. The wheels rode even softer than the RS80’s and there is no doubt I could feel the aerodynamics of the Zipps as well. 

I am not a very picky rider so I am skeptical about anything I can’t quantify. But when the difference is so great that it doesn’t need to be measured, I know it is legitimate. The differences in both ride quality and speed increase were significant and more than enough that I can state that “anyone can tell the difference”. 

I also rode the wheels in the rain and the brake pads were impressive. It seemed that it took two revolutions of the wheel to get excellent and full braking power. This must have been how long it took for the brake pads to completely clear the water on the rim. At that point the brakes felt the same as riding in dry conditions. When dry, the pads worked perfectly. They worked so well that I didn’t ever think about them. 

Cons (what you didn’t like, or would change and why)

Before riding them I was thinking that these wheels may just kick out tubulars as the choice for top racers. I then rode them for about 2 weeks before I rode some other wheels. I switched out the CC wheels for the Zipp 303 Tubular (V4 version) wheels and I was immediately reminded that as very nice as the CC wheels ride, they are not a tubular. 

In mid September I jumped into a duathlon. It was the same weekend as IM WI and I had loaned out my race wheels. At this duathlon I “had to” use the 404 CC wheels. Yes they are fast, but not as fast as a 1080/Disc combo. I can’t quantify the difference, but during the race I was thinking how happy I was that the guys that like to typically beat up on me weren’t there because I don’t know that I would have been able to ride with them.

The wrap up, general consensus.  Worth it for you? 

The Wheels are spectacular! The choice is obvious if you want to have the convenience of a clincher with the best ride quality possible without going to a tubular. However, if every second counts, then you should think about a tubular disc and super deep section front. For 2011, the CC is also available in 808s! Deep aero section, Firecrest, and Carbon Clincher.